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More Bluetongue Outbreaks Reported in Europe

EUROPE - Several more outbreaks of Bluetongue have been reported in France and Greece recently.

The outbreak in Greece was of serotype four, which has been the serotype associated with outbreaks in Hungary, Austria and Romania. Greece last recorded an outbreak in November 2014.

The seven Greek cases occurred in a herd of 48 goats on a farm in Dodekanisa, Rhodes Island in southern Greece, and four of these animals then died. The affected farm also held four cattle and twelve sheep.

Control measures enacted in Greece include surveillance, movement controls, zoning and traceability.

Meanwhile, reports of serotype eight outbreaks have continued in France (see image above). In France's most recent report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), seven further outbreaks had been found in the Puy-de-Dôme region, and one in the Nièvre region.

Eight cases in cattle were detected across the French outbreaks, which were identified through surveillance efforts. 719 cattle are susceptible to the disease across these farms. Movement controls, screening, vaccination and disinfection are also being used to fight the spread of the virus.

The UK's National Farmers' Union reminded farmers to keep a look out for the disease given its circulation in Europe.